There is no question about it when someone asks me who my favorite MSU player of all time is, it's Derrick Zimmerman. He talked smack, and could back it up. I've been searching, but can't find the classic photo from the Clarion Ledger on Derrick standing on the press table with a broom after sweeping the Ole Miss. I was at MSU during most of Derrick's career and had the opportunity to know Derrick through being involved in the athletic department. Derrick didn't rewrite the record books for scoring, but Derrick played hard nosed defense and brought an attitude that personified our team. Derrick set all-time school records in career assists (514) and games played. He also ranks second on MSU’s all-time list with 205 career steals.While at State he helped lead Bulldogs to a combined 80-47 record, including a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances, an SEC Western Division championship and an SEC Tournament title. Ever since Derrick left MSU I've been waiting for a guard athletic enough to hawk down player from behind, block a layup at the last second and run the point the way he did. Derrick's dishes flourished when Mario was the man, but I don't think there will ever be another Derrick Zimmerman. He's my favorite, who's yours?
Luke 5:20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."
14 comments:
Do we have to name just one ?
My all time favorite player was Darryl Wilson. He kept us in so many games and kept us out in front of so many games. I'll never forget the trifecta he banked in against Cincy in the NCAA Tournament run.
Virtually every year I have a favorite player though. Timmy Bowers would have to rank up there right behind Wilson because he was such a steady player and made some huge shots for us.
Barry Stewart is on the watch list now. It seems like I identify more with the guards. ZD
Zimmerman is a great choice. I remember that last second layup he had to extend our win streak agianst ole miss.
But i'm going to go with Darryl (triple D)Wilson as well. The most clutch player we've ever had and took us all the way to the final 4 with big D and dontae jones.
Timmy is a close 2nd though. And seeing Stewart play I can't help but dream that he can become a player of Timmy's caliber during his time here. And if Ravern Johnson is half the shooter Darryl was.... well.... look out.
Timmy Bowers would have to be my all time favorite. He could do it all and "willed" the team to several wins during the SEC championship season.
Derrick Zimmerman was great in that he provided some unreal highlights. I can't remember who we played but he was standing flat footed under our goal and one hand dunked it over a couple of players.
It was always great anticipating whether the Zimmerman/Bowers background was going to block a three pointer during the game.
captaindawg
A couple games that stand out with Timmy for me are; the one at USC, he hit a 3 to put it into OT and we never looked back. And AT Alabama, they were very good that year too, i think he hit a floater in the last seconds to put us on top. I'd give anything to get a tape of one of those games. And of course the UK game where his hot shooting led us out of a deep deficit agianst the Cats and into a 1 point lead with 2.3 seconds left.... we don't have to go into what happened after that... (we got screwed) but we got revenge this year, in a same type of game that went our way this time. During the last half of the UK game this year i was constantly having flashbacks of the 03 game that broke my heart.
But my point is, Timmy Bowers was that type of player. In big situations he was right there making plays, always. We saw flashes of that in Jamont Gordon in this years victory over Kentucky. And hopefully, next year he can have the type of year that puts him right in the thick of this argument of Fav State player ever.
Cheers and GO STATE!
-Darg
same player: Derrick Zimmerman
zimmerman over-seas clips
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7XfiqgzQNA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTHstHkgNJY
Darg
Timmy Bowers is my favorite player.
Bowers, Zimmerman, Austin, Roberts, and Goodridge are the top 5, but i only started following State Basketball once i went to school in '99, so i never saw(besides the final 4 team) any of the other players play prior to that.
Bowers displayed athleticism, basketball smarts, shooting, passing, rebounding, steals, tough defense, and an all around will to win at all times.
he was the most complete player that i have seen so far...Gordon has certainly been impressive in this aspect too.
an idea for this blog, links to the players that are still playing professionally, wherever they may be at.
with Roberts in Greece, Austin in Israel(till he signs a new contract), Bowers in Israel, Dontae in Japan(last i saw), Zimmerman in Italy(last i saw), i think it would be cool to be able to keep tabs on em.
just spittin.
-TheMystic/mstateglfr
Mine is Scotty Hopson.
Mine comes from back in the day. Wiley Peck. The hardest working man on the court.
Greg Carter...non-stop effort, smart basketball player...no glaring weakness to his game.
It's hard to argue with Zimmerman and/or Bowers though.
What year was Carter, I started following around 91 and my memory serves me well back to 94.
How about Trob. Tony Robinson, thought he was anorexic, didn't look like he could stand up without some help but he was great around the goal with a soft touch. He slammed hard over Barkley one time, but next time down Barkley threw his shot into the first row.
Carter was a senior on the 1991 SEC Championship team. I remember him best for the 104-102 4OT game in the Hump vs Ole Miss in the 89-90 season. We were behind late in that one and got behind by 5-6 points in just about every overtime, but he kept hitting big time 3 pointers to close the gaps and allow us to pull it out in the 4th OT. The Hump was rocking that night, but the crowd and both teams were whipped when it was finally over.
WINSOME FRAZIER
Defense, Offense (inside and outside). He was the spark plug that keep the team together. If he had stayed healty we could have went back to the final 4.
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